Uncategorized – 91�� Student Symposium

Student Presenters Awarded at UMSS25

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 14:57:44 +0000

More than 1,500 student researchers, co-authors, faculty, staff, event sponsors, and community members attended the 2025 91�� Student Symposium, held at the New Balance Field House on Friday, April 11, 2025.

The tenth annual symposium provided an opportunity for the public to interact with student researchers and scholars as they viewed posters and exhibits presented by 91�� students.

Over 430 projects were submitted to the annual event, which was free and open to the public. The symposium was organized and co-hosted by the Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR), Student Government, and the Graduate Student Government as part of Maine Impact Week. Supported and sponsored by the office of the vice president for research and dean of the graduate school, this event brings graduate and Undergraduate students together for a day of technical exchange. Additional sponsorships were received from Maine Technology Institute (MTI), Versant, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Northern Light Health, IEEE, Maine College of Engineering and Computing, President Joan Ferrini-Mundy and Rick Mundy, 4Imprint, Hannaford Supermarkets, New Life Scientific, MaineHealth Institute of Research, Rhode Island Restoration, Specialty Products and Insulation (SPI), Texas Instruments, Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers Twin City Bangor, Maine Lobster Now, Inclinator Company of America, 454 – 465 Piermont Ave, LLC, and Sitelines.

UMSS awards include an undergraduate and graduate winner for each of the ten UMSS academic categories, all of whom receive a medal and $500 cash prize. Congratulations to all the recipients for your excellent work!

Special Awards

Dean of Graduate School Undergraduate Mentoring Award – Liza White, Biomedical Engineering

3-Minute Thesis, First Place – Allie Conner, Microbiology
3-Minute Thesis, Second Place – Mandana Askarizadeh, Biomedical Sciences
3-Minute Thesis, People’s Choice – Ehasn Ullah Sardar, Chemical Engineering

Bruce and Joanne Fournier Award – Rakibul Hossain, “Developing Mineral-added Wood Fiber-based Wallboard Panels with Enhanced Fire Resistance and Mechanical Strength,” advised by Mehdi Tajvidi

Susan J. Hunter Undergraduate Award: Brigid Mrenna, “Testing How Plant Traits Predict Survival of Northeastern U.S. Tree Seedlings Under Compound Heat and Drought Stress,” advised by Jay Wason III

Susan J. Hunter Graduate Award: Liza White, “Engineered Textured Surfaces: Scalable Solutions for Next Generation Technology,” advised by Caitlin Howell

UMSS25 Undergraduate Category Awards

Allied Health: Hannah Maker, Olivia Pelkey, Katherine Darling, “Downeast Population Health Initiative,” advised by Jordan Porter
Arts: Emily Voight, Shelby Philips, Cecília Andrade, Grace Carlson, Nnenaya Lewis, Sean Schweizer, Grace Philips, “Drowning in Air,” advised by Alexis Foster
Biomedical Sciences: Emily Ledue, Samuel Kovacs, Annika Savage, Noah Adelman, Esther Biro, Gabriella Giftos, Julia Coombs, Mia Corradi, Veronica Doyle, Ashley Geydoshek, Vejune Griciute, Riley Jerome, Meagan Libby, Franklin Libby, Isaac Mains, Andrew Melanson, Randi Phillips, Mary Kate Pons, Alexandra Ruff, Mason Soares, Justin Solomon, “Inhibiting α-Galactosidase from Saccharomyces pastorianus A Comprehensive Analysis,” advised by Jennifer Newell-Caito
Business: Lucas Ronco, Cooper Williams, Brianna Townsend, Nicholas Swim, Rusty Stough, “Competitive Balance? Examining Division I Women’s Basketball and Soccer,” advised by Nicholas Swim
Education: Matthew Patterson, “Our ClassXRoom: A New Dimension in Active Learning,” advised by Justin Dimmel
Engineering and Information Sciences: Ozwin Cordes, Octavian Anghel, Joseph Binette, Kobe Chasse, Aidan Bradley, “Blockchain-based Secure Sensor Data Tracking for Industrial and IoT Applications,” advised by Laura Gurney
Interdisciplinary Research: Erica Cunningham, “Effects of Naval Sonar on Common Bottlenose Dolphins,” advised by William Ellis
Natural Sciences: Faith Flynn, Allie Andersen, “The Gulf of Maine Pelagic Parasite Survey,” advised by Ian Bricknell
Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Ryan Allen, “Modeling the Mechanics of Avian Breeding and Migration,” advised by Jane Wang
Social Sciences and Humanities: Miles Jones, “The Lewiston Effect: A Social Media Analysis of Gun Control Sentiment in Maine,” advised by Asif Nawaz

UMSS25 Graduate Category Awards

Allied Health: Kristie Spaulding, “Evaluating the Effectiveness of Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in Primary Care,” advised by Colleen Marzilli
Arts: Matthew Liderbach, “Lotus Operandi,” advised by Susan Smith
Biomedical Sciences: Carolina Cora, Breanna Page, Ryan Reno, James Reilly, Wadak Harbi, Vlada Chekirka, Christian Potts, Mary Weatherbee, Joanne T. deKay, Juan Aristizabal-Henao, Michael A. Kiebish, David Gagnon, Richard Riker, Teresa L. May, Sergey Ryzhov, Douglas B. Sawyer, David B. Seder I, “Brown Adipose Tissue Activation and Inflammatory Modulation in Post-Cardiac Arrest Recovery,” advised by Matthew Lynes
Business: N/A
Education: Holly White, Alyssa Arscott, Katharine J. Ruskin, Debra M. Allen, Alison Jolley, “Building Belonging in First Year Students Through Research Learning Experiences,” advised by Katharine Ruskin
Engineering and Information Sciences: Erfan Najaf, Eric Landis, “Reducing Cracks in Concrete Bridges Using Cellulose Nanofibrils (CNF),” advised by Eric Landis
Interdisciplinary Research: Melissa Godin, Caroline Noblet, “Geospatial Integration of PFAS Survey Data,” advised by Caroline Noblet
Natural Sciences: Nichole Blackmer, Kyle Brennan, Erin Grey, “A Transcriptomic Analysis of the Adult Atlantic Sea Scallop (Placopecten magellanicus ) in Response to Bacterial Challenges,” advised by Timothy Bowden
Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Tahi Wiggins, Kristin M. Schild, Martin Truffer, “Surface Water Dynamics at Echo Glacier, Lingít Aaní,” advised by Seth Campbell
Social Sciences and Humanities: Muhammad Hamza Imran, Katherine Simmons, “Co-Designing Microgrids for Energy Justice: A Literature Review Analysis of Best Practices, Barriers, and Pathways for Underserved Communities,” advised by Sharon Klein

UMSS 2023 Symposium Gallery

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 19:12:01 +0000

Gallery of UMSS23 Photos

UMSS23 Student Profile: Laura Curioli

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 16:10:24 +0000

“Always research something that really grabs your interest. Don’t skip topics just because they’re obscure or maybe not as well-known. Your love for a topic will really fuel your eagerness to learn and discover.” Recent 91�� graduate Laura Curioli has been involved with research since her freshman year and has taken her own advice to heart, researching and discovering new topics throughout her academic career.

The focus of her first research project was on smuggling practices in Maine during the prohibition era. Her winning AY2122 CUGR Fellowship proposal was focused on “the correlations between counterterrorism efforts in the United States and the decrease/increase of terrorist attacks using international databases.”

For her AY2223 CUGR award, she focused on “Some Thoughts Concerning Education,” by 17th century philosopher, John Locke. “I am hoping to draw correlation between Locke’s educational philosophies and current American education system values.”

Curioli says her faculty mentor, Joel Anderson, has been an invaluable resource as she works on her project. “It’s always a great experience to have someone mentor you, particularly when the area of research is a shared interest! A mentor encourages you to look at the materials you’ve collected and questions you’re asking and then approach them from several different angles. To have someone assist you ensures you have a well-rounded comprehension of the topic and successful research.”

UMSS23 Student Profile: Mary Milligan

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 14:40:31 +0000

Mary Milligan was first exposed to research when she was named a Maine Top Scholar and was introduced to advisors in the chemistry department at 91��. After talking with several professors she found a research project that piqued her interest. Milligan says, “since then, I have been able to apply a lot of the skills I’ve learned in the lab to classes I’m taking, conversations and even when applying to grad school.”

Today Milligan is working with her faculty mentor, Dr. Matt Brichacek, focusing on xylan, “a major component of plant biomass and secondary cell walls.” Xylan falls under a class of glycans, which are found in most plants and make them “an abundant source of fuel for renewable energy.” However, the chemical bonds of xylan can be difficult to degrade, impeding the process. Milligan is using the reagent, 4-MU Iodonium Triflate, to assess how to degrade those molecular bonds, hoping to apply it to other classes of glycans. “In the future, these reactions, in conjunction with the 4-MU reagent, can be transferred to sustainability studies concerning biofuels.”

Milligan says she “had the benefit of working with both a mentor and a graduate student,” saying their knowledge helped her understand not only portions of her research but also other aspects of chemistry she had been unable to previously apply. “I am forever thankful for Matt and Robin’s efforts in helping me become a better chemist and making my research experience so informative.”

For those who are just considering dipping their toes into research, Milligan recommends exploring lots of areas and talking to a variety of faculty mentors. Exposure to different areas and research projects gets students thinking about all the possibilities available to them. “Enjoy your time doing research and try your best to schedule time” for it. She says while college may be tough, the experience is only as rewarding as students make it.

Uncategorized – 91���� Student Symposium